Wilshere clarifies England views

Wilshere clarifies England views

Wilshere clarifies England views

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Adnan Januzaj is currently available to play for Belgium, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia and Turkey

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Jack Wilshere made his comments about eligibility in a press conference on Tuesday

England midfielder Jack Wilshere has attempted to diffuse an escalating row over his view of eligibility for the national side.

Wilshere sent out a series of tweets on Wednesday evening aimed at clarifying his position over a delicate issue, which he initially waded into during a press conference ahead of England's World Cup qualifier with Montenegro on Friday.

"To be clear, never said 'born in England' - I said English people should play for England," said Wilshere.

"Great respect for people like KP (Kevin Pietersen), Mo Farah and Wilf Zaha - they make the country proud.

"My view on football - going to a new country when ur an adult, & because u can get a passport u play 4 that national team - I disagree.

Wilshere tried to defend his comments by responding with: "@KP24 With all due respect Mr Pietersen the question was about Football! Cricket, cycling, Athletics is not my field!"

That did not satisfy Pietersen, who hit back with: "@JackWilshere same difference.. It's about representing your country! IN ANY SPORT!"

Wilshere again tried to play down the row: "@KP24 I agree that's exactly what i was saying...."

The debate about sportsmen playing for England despite being born in a different country is nothing new, and both Pietersen's broadside and Wilshere's later clarification demonstrates how much of a sensitive subject it remains.

The England cricket team have regularly been populated with players from all four corners of the globe, as have the national side in both rugby codes.

Football has tended to regard itself as slightly different.

Mikel Arteta, Manuel Almunia and Carlo Cudicini have all been eligible to play for England in the past, but they have not been called upon.

But England boss Roy Hodgson has admitted he will be keeping a close eye on Januzaj's development, while Football Association chairman Greg Dyke said his organisation is looking at its own boundaries regarding player eligibility.

It is easy to forget throughout this whole saga that Januzaj has not professed any declaration that he wants to play for England.

The winger is yet to pledge his allegiance to any country and he is certainly not short of options.

He will only be able to play for England if he stays on these shores for the next five years, however.

Januzaj and his father decided two years ago when he moved to Manchester from Anderlecht that he would only pledge his allegiance to a nation once he was playing regular first-team football.

The Belgian Football Association has been informed of this decision, but that did not stop coach Marc Wilmots trying to call up the midfielder for the upcoming qualifiers against Croatia and Wales.

Januzaj rejected that offer, even though he knows that if he picked Belgium, he could end up playing for the nation at the World Cup in Brazil next year.

Wilshere received the backing of his club manager, Arsene Wenger.

Wenger told BBC Sport: "I agree with him. I always said also an Englishman should manage the England team.

"If we are not clear on that the national teams will become like a club."